Solar boiler.



T. F. NICHOLS.

SOLAR BOILER.

APPLICAHON FILED AUG.7.1913.

Patnted Nov 30, 1915.

WI T/VESSES A TTOH/VEYS T. F. NICHOLS.

SOLAR BOILER.

APPLICATION men AUG-7.1913.

1,162,505, Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

Z SHEETS-SHEET Z.

W/ T/VE SSE S l1 ITORA/EYS an apparatus of the crating steam for operating THOMAS E. NICHOLS, OF PHOENIX, ARIZONA.

some BOILER.

Specification of Letterslatent.

Application filed August 7, 1913. Serial No. 783,504.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS F. NICHOLS, a citizen of the United States,

residing at Phoenix, in the county of Maricopa' and State of Arizona, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Solar Boilers, of which the following isa specification.

The invention relates to an apparatus for utilizingythe heatof the sun for power or other purposes by concentrating the heat rays therefrom upon suitably arranged and constructed pipes, boilers or conduits, in which water or other preferred fluid may usually be caused to flow.

The object of the invention is to provide above character which 'on and eflicient in opbe installed at reason- 1s slmple in construct eration and which can able cost.

A further object is to ratus which, being built in sections, may readily be constructed of any capacity desired andis'adaptable to various uses.

In warm,arid regions where the sun shines a great deal, fuel is usually very for that reason it is desirable suns heat as an economical way of'producing steam for power or other purposes. In case a large amount of power is required my apparatus may be used as a feed water heater in connection with an ordinary boiler using fuel. My vantageously also for heating water for cooking and household purposes; and for individual house use a few be readily installed in the yard or on the roofand, since it is substantially automatic in. operation, will require little attention.

produce an appa- In the distillation of fluids of various characters my apparatus with its direct and return flow conduits, both receiving the heat thereon, will rapidly form of condenser that may be properly connected with the apparatus. My apparatus may also be used in'connection with refrigeration and ioe .-making plants both for distilling the water'for the ice and for genpump s, and compressors. In this use, my arrangement of auxiliary conduits and valves, connecting the several main conduits readily lends itself to subdivlsion so that part of the apparatus may be used for distilling the water and part for operating the pumps and compressors. In these and other uses my apparatus will scarce and to use the apparatus may be used adsections may.

the apparatus herewith since, for convenlence,

shown and describe groups of mirrors are only a few small Patented Nov.3@, 119115.

shown, but it will readily be understood that the number of groups and the number and size of the mirrors in each group may be varied to meet the requirements of any particular installation.

n the accompanying drawings which may beconsidered as illustrating the typical orm of my apparatus, Figure l is a top plan view of the apparatus showing two groups of mirrors of three each. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is an end elevation looking from the lower end. Fig. 4 is a cross section at 4-4. of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 shows details of conduit valve.

Referring to the drawings 1 represents a focusing mirror which preferably consists of a metallic plate bent in the formof a parabolic cylinder, the inner surface thereof being highly polished or otherwise adapted to serve as an eflicient reflecting surface for the suns rays. It

the mirrors may be made of any dimension to meet the requirements ,but preferably I construct them of convenient size for handling and then install a large number in groups or otherwise, so as to expose a large amount of surface to the sun. In the present instance I have shown the sheet metal .reflector of each mirror assecured along the stralght edges thereof to bars or angle irons 2, one of which may be continuous from end to end of each group of mirrors as shown, the object of such connection beingto compel the mirrors to move in unison as more fully explained hereinafter. Each mirror is preferably fitted with ends 3 consisting of open metal frame except the most northerly end, in order not to throw shadows on the pipe provided with lugs or brackets 4 secured to the side bars 2. The ends 3 arewill be understood that Y preferably secured to the curved reflecting surface so as to assist in retaining the proper curvature thereof, and also, through the lugs 4, secured tothe side. bars 2, thus producing ;a slight rigid structure throughout.

Longitudinally of the mirror or group of mirrors at the focal axis thereof there extends a boiler or conduit which preferably comprises an outer tube 5 and an inner tube 6, here shown as concentric, but it 'willbe or in other words, the focal 'manner with a supply of understood that any suitable arrangement of tubes may be employed. The conduits 5 and 6 are'located at the focal axis of the mirrors axis of each mirror of a group coincides with the center line or axis of the conduit for that group. The inner tubes or conduitsfi are suitably connected with a pipe 7 which may lead from-a pump 8 or may be connected in any suitable water or other fluid under pressure. Preferably the several conduits 6 take off from the pipe 7 as parallel branches but by a suitable arrangement of valves the direction of flow can be changed asdesired. To facilitate this control of the flow in the pipes and conduits the several groups are cross connected by auxiliary OOH duits preferably as shown in the drawings. The auxiliary conduit 9, in the three mir-. ror grouping shown, is connected with the conduits 5 between the second and third mirrors and the pipe 7 is preferably carried through this conduit to connect with the inner conduits 6 of the several groups. It will be seen that the ends of the conduits 5 above the auxiliary conduit 9'are not provided with "inner conduits 6 thus leaving more room for expansion and space for the accumulation of steam or vapor. The upper ends of the conduits diameter, which serves as the steam chamber and may be connected by suitable check valvell with the boiler, engine, pump, condenser or other apparatus it is desired to 7 The conduits 5 or one of the auxiliary con- 'down through-the duits as 9 may be provided with a water gage 15 adapted to indicate the level of the water in the boiler. The auxiliary conduit 9 may also be provided with a regulating valve if desired, suitably locatedas at16.

The lower ends of the conduits 5 are preferably cross connected by auxiliary pipes 17, 18, whlch may or may not be used as conduits as desired. The pipe 18, connecting the lower ends of the conduits 5, is preferably connected with the valves 19 which, as illustrated in Fi the direction of ow in the conduits 5 and 6. As shown in Fig. 5 the valve 19 is apiston valve adapted to .c 'ose the end of the conduit 5 and permit t e water inthe boiler to flow turn by the annular channel between the two conduits 5 and 6 as indicated by the If desired the'v'alve piston conical portion thereof in a valve seat 21 5 are connected to another cross conduit 10, preferably of large such manner that the mirrors cured along 5, are adaptedto control inner'conduit 6 and re-' greases formed in the end of the conduit 6 and thus close this conduit when it'is desired to stop the flow or otherwise regulate the action of the boiler.

The apparatus is supported in an exposed position to receive the direct rays, from the sun, and preferably at an angle to the horizontal as indicated in the drawings, the lower end being toward the south. The conduits and mirrors may be supported by brackets or framing of suitable character but preferably the conduits are secured to the upper ends of piping posts or brackets 22 properly proportioned to give the angle it is desired for the conduits and mirrors relative to the horizontal. In the form of apparatus shown the mirrors are preferably mounted to rotate about the conduits 5 as an axis, which, as previously pointed out, coincides with the focal axes of the mirrors. The open end frames shown as provided with arms extending upward and perforated with holes through It will be understood that in order to keep the mirrors facing the sun at all times they should be rotated abouttheir axes at a -uniform rate corresponding with the ape sun. To obtain this umform movement of the mirrors preferably connect the parent movements of th 3 of the mirrors are mirrors together by suitable cords 23 and pulleys24 which 111 turn are connected to a motor clock 25 in will be moved automatically, the clock being regulated to To balance the action "of maintain the .mirrors facing upward, suitable means may -be,employed, 'suchlas the weights" orabars 26, which Figs. 2,3 and 4:.

The apparatus adapted to be moved manually to face the sun at the beginning of the day, or whenever in need of ad]us tment, as indicated by the heavy lines in Fig; 4, after which the-motor clock will cause them to follow-the-sun as in by the dotted lines in the same figure. In

describing the apparatus the operation has dicated 1 correspond with the movement of the sun. the pulleysf'and are shown as se-'- the sides of the mirrors 1n been sufficiently indicated so as to be readily understood. In starting of flow desired and adjust the conduit valves accordingly and then start the flow of water the apparatus it .will be necessary to determine the dlrection or fluid under pressure through the pipe 7,

the mirrorshaving been turned by face the sun, after which the apparatus will operate practically automatically; j

I do not wish to be limited to the specific details of construction for it will be understood that various modishown and describe hand to fications' may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims.

axial alinement,

located axis of each row of reflectors, a plurality of transversely arranged auxiliary conduits, valves for opening or closing the connection between row whereby through said trolled.

conduits. 4 In a solar boiler the combination with a plurality of parallel rows of parabolic reectors, the reflectors in each row being in axial alinement,concentrically arranged diand about which said reflectors are adapted to rotate, auxiliary c0nduits interconnecting the conduits of the several rows, valves for controlling the flow through said conduits, counterbalancing fluencing said reflectors to turn 1n one direction and. means for synchronously turning said reflectors in the opposite direction whereby they are adapted to follow the sun.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS F. NICHOLS. Witnesses:

S. M. COTTEN, J. W. DE SOUZA. 

